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Forensic Accountants

by: Peter Vogt

An employee embezzles millions of dollars from his company, but he doesn’t know his firm is on to him. To combat his schemes, the company brings in a forensic accountant, a professional with a combination of financial expertise and investigative prowess, to determine exactly what’s going on.

Eventually, the forensic accountant uncovers the fraud, gathers evidence, and turns it over to the FBI. The employee gets convicted and goes to prison.

This is not the plot of the latest Hollywood blockbuster, or the latest corporate accounting scandal for that matter. This is a typical example of a day’s work for a forensic accountant.

Given the amount of money organizations lose to fraud and abuse — an estimated $600 billion this year alone, according to a study by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) — it’s no wonder forensic accounting is one of the fastest-growing sectors, not just of the accounting field but of the world of work as a whole.

According to Accounting Today, nearly 40 percent of the top 100 accounting firms in the US are now expanding their forensics-related services. US News & World Report calls forensic accounting one of the “20 hot job tracks of the future,” and two-thirds of the companies that responded to a national study by Kessler International, a forensic accounting and investigation firm based in New York City, say they’ve either used the services of a forensic accountant already or have considered doing so in the recent past.

“Fraud can sometimes be the difference between a company posting a profit or a loss,” says Michael Kessler, president and CEO of Kessler International. “Our survey’s results are indicative of the tightening economy that is causing companies to hunt down any threat to their financial well-being.”

Private companies aren’t the only ones asking forensic accountants to hunt for wrongdoing. Government agencies like the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms have forensic accountants who investigate everything from money laundering and identity-theft-related fraud to arson for profit and tax evasion. Law firms often use forensic accountants to help divorcees uncover their exes’ hidden assets. In recent months, forensic accountants have uncovered instances of companies cooking the books to falsely inflate company profits, minimize losses or divert large amounts of money to company leaders.

Well, it’s no wonder that the number of forensic accountants is on the rise. If you’d like to join their ranks, here’s what you can do now to prepare for this field.

Develop Your Detective Abilities and Your Financial Skills

“Forensic accountants must have the skills of both a private investigator and an accountant,” says Kessler. That means your analytical abilities and research skills will be as essential to your success as your eventual financial experience, including knowledge of accounting procedures (proper and improper).

Get the Appropriate Credentials

Most forensic accountants have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and many have additional academic preparation in fields like criminal justice or law enforcement. The field generally requires that you have your Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.

Expect to earn anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000 a year in your first entry-level position in the forensic accounting field. Once you’ve accumulated a few years of experience, you could see your annual salary reach six figures. It’s not uncommon for veteran forensic accountants to make more than $100,000 a year.

To increase your value as a forensic accountant, you can take the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exam, administered by the ACFE. By earning this credential, you’ll show prospective employers that you “exemplify the highest moral and ethical standards” of the profession and you have, in ACFE’s terms, “the ability to conduct complete, efficient, thorough and ethical fraud investigations.”